Become a Chartered Accountant

In this episode, Sinead Fox Hamilton speaks to Ruth McLoughlin, Chartered Accountant, tax adviser, business consultant and fashion rental business owner, about building a career on your own terms. Ruth reflects on her journey from Deloitte and international tax into senior in-house roles, before launching her own consultancy and stepping into retail entrepreneurship with Happy Days. A standout moment comes when she shares the striking statistic that 1.7 million sequined garments are sent to landfill after Christmas, highlighting the sustainability mission behind her business. Warm, practical and energising, this episode is full of insight on entrepreneurship, confidence, travel and why investing in yourself can open unexpected doors.

In this episode, Sinead Fox Hamilton sits down with Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, a chartered accountant whose career now spans film, television and music production, including work on Other Voices. From training in a small Dublin firm to working in KPMG and later moving into media, Iarfhlaith shares how the qualification gave him the grounding, resilience and credibility to follow a creative path. One of the standout moments is when he describes chartered accountancy as “the great enabler”, a foundation that can open doors well beyond traditional roles. Honest, thoughtful and full of personality, this episode is a powerful reminder that chartered accountancy can be a springboard into the industries you care most about.

In this episode of the Become a Chartered Accountant podcast, Sinead Fox Hamilton talks to Pamela McCready, President of Chartered Accountants Ireland for 2025/26 and Chief Operating Officer of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Pamela shares a career journey that has taken her from KPMG into senior leadership roles across health, audit and policing, and explains why chartered accountancy is about much more than technical ability. One of the most powerful moments comes when she describes the profession as “very much part of a family”, a reflection on the community, support and belonging that can shape a career for life. Thoughtful, honest and wide-ranging, this episode explores leadership, global opportunity, public interest and the future of the profession.

From growing up on a family farm to leading his own accountancy practice, Shaun McGlade’s journey shows the power of hard work, adaptability, and vision. In this episode, Shaun reflects on the lessons learned from his parents’ business, the importance of making numbers “real” for clients, and the leap of faith it took to leave a secure job to start SMC Ltd. He shares how the Chartered Accountancy qualification opened doors, why flexibility matters for both students and professionals, and how running his own firm has brought unexpected rewards — from hiring staff to shaping the future of his community.

Nifemi’s career didn’t start in accounting — in fact, she studied science at university before discovering her true passion at a graduate careers fair. In this inspiring conversation, she shares how she made the leap into Chartered Accountancy, topped national exams, and built a thriving career that blends finance, content creation, and mentoring. Along the way, Nifemi busts myths about the profession, explains how her skills are transferable across industries, and offers practical advice for students on networking, balancing work and study, and embracing discomfort as a path to growth.

Tom has used the freedom of movement that Chartered Accountancy has given him to travel the world and to make friends in places like Bermuda, New York, the Netherlands and Cyprus. He has also used his qualification to pivot from finance to sustainability, where he makes a very real difference.

Amy wanted to be an FBI agent when she was a child and followed on to do Criminology at Queen's University.  She found that her enquiring mind was perfectly suited to Chartered Accountancy and now she works at BT Northern Ireland as their Finance Lead. Listen to Amy tell her story and explain why accountancy is much more than spreadsheets and numbers.

When Diana Carvalho graduated with a Communications Degree from University of Braga, Portugal,  Chartered Accountancy was not in her plans. When she moved to Ireland, she discovered a love of business and decided to change course. In four short years she claimed her proudest achievement: she became a Chartered Accountant.

Sinéad Henry is a nearly-qualified Chartered Accountant. She is a strong believer in community and social participation. As Vice President for Welfare at Queen's University, Belfast, Sinéad ran campaigns for mental health, consent and sexual health. Sinéad is looking forward to using her Chartered Accountancy as a means to continue to advocate for justice and sustainability in the business sector.

The international reputation of Chartered Accountancy has allowed Peter Gillen to work at home and in the United States. He has also leveraged his qualification to move job and work in the sector that is closest to his heart - sustainability. 

This episode of 'Become a Chartered Accountant' features Irina Yotova who started her working life in Ireland as a chambermaid and took the flexible route to find the job of her dreams.

For Michael McDermott, becoming a Chartered Accountant has opened up a world of opportunity. He describes the benefits of the Flexible Route and explains how success for him is about enjoying what you do more than anything.

This episode features Ayo Olabimtan who became a Chartered Accountant and is now at the commercial heart of sustainability in Ireland.

This episode features the inspirational Catalina Alkhatib who decided to transform her whole life, by studying  via the Flexible Route whilst managing a full-time job and her newborn child.